Paint attack on ministers offices

Pro-Palestinian vandals have defaced the Melbourne offices of AG Mark Dreyfus and NDIS Minister Bill Shorten as well the office of the US Consulate General.

Bill SHorten electorate office has been splashed with red paint. Photo: Supplied

Pro-Palestinian vandals have defaced the electorate offices of two federal Labor Ministers in Melbourne early Friday morning.

Vandals also attacked the US Consulate General in St Kilda Road, where red paint was splashed on the front and the slogan “Free Gaza” was tagged on the front of the office.

Red paint was splashed across the front of the suburban offices of Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and NDIS Minister Bill Shorten by vandals who also wrote slogans accusing the government of being complicit in genocide in Gaza.

“Vandalism or acts of violence which aim to call out violence is counter-productive,” Mr Shorten said on Friday.

“It is also unfair on innocent businesses whose signage has been defaced by this illegal behaviour.”

The vandals wrote “40,000 dead you are complicit in geneocide” on the front of Mr Shorten;s office in Moonee Ponds. Victoria Police is investigating the attack on both offices.

“Police are investigating after a number of MPs offices were vandalised across Melbourne,” police said in a statement.

“It is believed red paint was thrown at offices from 4am. Offices include St Kilda Road in Melbourne, Main Street Mordialloc, Hall Street in Moonee Ponds and High Street Northcote.

“All incidents will be thoroughly investigated.”

Protesters are expected to target a Victoria’s Defence Capabilities forum in the CBD on Friday.

According to the protest flyer, protesters are calling for “no business as usual for warmongers,” and claims Victoria is “complicit in genocide.”

“Join us as we take a stand against the weapons industrial complex in Naarm,” the poster reads.

“As Rafah burns, we shine a light on the complicity of the ALP government and the corporations that facilitate genocide.”

Disrupt Wars, a pro-Palestine organisation, promised that while protesters will target “gutless” Labor MP’s, they will do so “peacefully.”

“There are no words left to describe the atrocities that we are witnessing, charred, decapitated bodies of children, their terror haunts me in my sleep, words have lost their weight, and so have the International Court of Justice and the global system of justice,” a Disrupt Wars actionist said.

“It is time we hold the Australian Government accountable for their complicity in genocide. But make no mistake, we shall do this peacefully.”